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by Dawn Dickerson
NSSLHA's 35th anniversary year ended on a high note—with record-breaking student attendance at the ASHA Convention in Boston.
Friday, Nov. 16—NSSLHA Day—began with the ASHFoundation announcing that more than $63,602 had been raised for the NSSLHA Scholarship Fund. The NSSLHA's Executive Council reached its endowment in less than two years, led by donations from the Board of Division Coordinators, local NSSLHA chapters, and a number of ASHA members and staff.
The NSSLHA luncheon and awards ceremony hosted 400 student leaders from across the country. Sue Ingram, James Madison University, was honored as the NSSLHA Chapter Advisor of the Year, and the College of Misercorida was named as the NSSLHA Chapter of the Year. Several chapter recognition awards were presented to groups that exhibited outstanding chapter development in 2007, along with awards to Honors recipients and the winners of the student ethics essay contest. The big surprise of the luncheon were the more than 125 complimentary memberships in one of the 16 special interest divisions awarded to students and the four $500 scholarships awarded by PeopleFirst Rehab.
The NSSLHA luncheon also debuted a new fundraising t-shirt: "NSSLHA...We Fill in the Gaps," designed by NSSLHA member Thor Rassmussen, a master's student majoring in speech at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Rassmussen submitted the winning design through one of several 35th anniversary contests NSSLHA sponsored throughout the year. T-shirts may be purchased in the upcoming 2008 ASHA Products catalog beginning in January.
Students from Boston University served as the NSSLHA Day ambassadors during the day's activities at the Westin Waterfront Hotel. NSSLHA is currently accepting applications from local chapters interested in hosting activities at the 2008 ASHA Convention in Chicago. To apply, visit Ambassadors Applications.
Dawn Dickerson, NSSLHA director of operations and staff liaison, can be reached at ddickerson@asha.org.
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